What's Worse than a Villain?
is a Young Justice (2010) fanfic by Ally Marton.
The Flash's Rogues Gallery have always had a... unique relationship with the resident hero and his sidekick. So when their (emphasis on THEIR) "baby" hero starts acting really weird, and some unexpected reveals are made, the Rogues take it as a duty to fix it. Because no one messes with THEIR Baby Flash. NO ONE.
Contains the following tropes:
- Abusive Parents: Learning that Kid Flash's dad started hitting him quite rattles the Rogues, since some of them suffered the same problem.
- Affectionate Nickname: To the Rogues, Kid Flash is "Baby" Flash.
- Caught on Tape: Mirror Master uses his gimmick to record Wally examinating his bruises in the high school's locker room and letting slip his dad was responsible. He later sends the result to the Justice League to ensure Rudy Wast's arrest.
- Cool and Unusual Punishment: After abducting Kid, the Rogues announce Trickster wants a sleep-over with him. Kid immediately accuses them to punish him for worrying them.
- Even Evil Has Standards: The Rogues proudly call themselves villains, but take offense at the idea they could become monsters. Villains still have limits such as refusing to hurt someone For the Evulz. Monsters don't.
- Friendly Enemy: Flash is quite genial with the Rogues, but Kid takes it to the next level with him playing darts with Trickster and begging Mirror Master for help with his homework.
- The Kindnapper: How the Rogues decide to help Kid Flash - as long as he's with them, his dad is unable to hurt him.
- Papa Wolf: The Rogues were ready to go to town on Flash because they thought he was hitting his sidekick. As for Flash himself, he did not take easy the resident criminals abducting his nephew.
- Secret Identity: Played with — the Rogues uncover the fact that "Kid Flash" is Wally West in his civvies, but decide to keep mum since the League would inflict them a Laser-Guided Amnesia if they knew.
- Trauma Button: Because many of the Rogues had Abusive Parents of their own, the situation with Kid makes them a teeny bit upset.
- Villain Has a Point: When he calls the kid out on the fact he never told anyone he was abused, Captain Cold reminds the sidekick he's only a child, he shouldn't have to deal with this himself, and even if his dad doesn't mean it, he still hurt his own son.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Captain Cold disapproves Wally's refusal to ask for help - isn't he supposed a hero? Heroes do the right thing, not the easy one.
- White-and-Grey Morality: The worse the designated "villains" do is using borderline illegal ways to protect an abused kid, and even the abusive parent is more of a messed up human being than a full-blown sociopath.
- Wrong Assumption: After learning of the abuse, the Rogues believe the Flash is responsible since Kid explicitly named his dad as the culprit.
